Novi Split
“hi kevin. my name is david and im a fun guy. i saw that you liked a thing or two about hush records so im going to hip you to the best record of 2007. mine. this is the baddest, meanest, heaviest, most rocking, bone crushingest hard rock record that you have heard in a long time. the songs are mostly about crushing cities and sucking out souls. i wrote it when i took a year off school to do acid in my moms house. i hope you like it”
You know after I read this email from David Jerkovich, aka Novi Split, I first laughed, then skurried on over to the link he gave me to give the album a listen. What I found was an album full of wonderful little folk songs in the vein of Page France, with a bit of Owen thrown in. Actually, a lot like Page France if you enjoy them. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed my soul was still intact and the buildings around me hadn’t crumbled after listening to his new album Pink in the Sink, but man is it great.
Honestly, it’s the kind of stuff I’m eventually striving to write myself. Simple melodies wrapped in complex arrangements. I’m waiting to gather all my musician friends together in one place, the ones that are better at their instrument than I will ever be, so I can begin to record my songs with elaborate arrangements with horns and strings and the like. But David’s got me beat there. His new album has all of the above. Great string parts, good use of subtle electronics, and at times it’s pretty epic sounding. He even does a great cover of “Crazy In Love” by Beyonce that kicks the original’s ass. Which obviously isn’t saying much, but he made it better that’s for sure.
I just listened to Cloak and Dagger Radio’s interview with David and became an even bigger fan because of it. You get to know David pretty well by the time you get done listening to the 40 minute interview, as he narrates his thoughts about each song as the album played in the background. I’d recommend listening to that interview whenever you have time. I’d go as far as to recommend you listening to that before you listen to any songs, but I know no one will do that, so just listen to it sometime soon.
What it honestly comes down to is that David is exactly like most of my friends, only he makes great music and they don’t (everyone except Stark Raving Calm of course). If there’s anyone I’ve ever written about on this site before that I thought deserved your support, Novi Split is that band. I’m not sure if the new album is for sale yet, but you can buy his previous album here. I’ll figure out when his new album is officially released and let you know. Until then, listen to the mp3’s below and enjoy some really great, laid back music.
RIYL: Page France, Owen, Electric President
Oh yes!! Found these guys a year or so ago and was waiting for them to get a write up. Glad you like their stuff